10
TITE 3IORNIXG OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, APRIL GO, 1914.
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POBTLAO, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1914.
CONSERVATION AND STATE RIGHTS.
When Congress has passed anti
trust bills and a farmers' credit bill
there will begin one of the greatest
legislative battles in our history. It
will concern disposal of the public
domain. There have been several pre
liminary skirmishes during the pres
ent session, when the Alaska railroad
4)111 and the bill authorizing sale or
lease of coal land in Montana to- the
Republic Coal Company were under
discussion. These skirmishes show
that the forces will divide on the
questions whether mineral land shall
be sold outright or shall be leased by
the Government; whether, if -leased,
such land shall pass under state jur
isdiction and be subject to state tax
ation. On the one side are those who hold
that the Government owns the land
Absolutely and can sell or lease it,
whichever it chooses; that the public
domain should be administered to
produce revenue for the Nation and
should therefore be leased. On the
other side are those who hold that
fhia policy is a violation of the prin
ciple that all states come into the
Union on the same terms as the orig
inal states; that the Government is
morally bound in justice to the states
to dispose of land in the West on the
eaiue terras as it nas aisposea or lana
in. the East and the Central! States;
that under Government landlordism
stood administration Is impossible.
The latter contention was main
tained in a speech on the Republic
Coal Company's bill by Senator Shaf
roth, of Colorado, that state having
always taken the lead in opposition
to the conservation policy. - He
pointed out that withdrawal from de
velopment of large areas of the West
ern States deprived them of the tax
ing power over these areas and ar
gued that leasing would have the
same effect, although the states must
incur expense for enforcement of law
within those areas.
He said that development of new
coal mines in Colorado has almost
ceased since the Government put the
price of coal land at figures ranging
as high as ?400 an acre. The valua
tion of reserved coal land in Colo
rado totals $500,000,000, which is
exempt from taxation. He holds that
the increased value is unearned in
crement, due to development of the
state by its people, and therefore be
longs in equity to them. He made a
strong point when he said that,
though the conservation policy is
supposed to be aimed against monop
oly, the advance in coal land prices
Vl a , flntllflllv sairijai mnnnnnlr Tt V- -
prevented new mines from entering
into competition with those already
existing, and has thus enhanced the
value of the latter and caused an in
crease of Jl to $1.50 a ton in the
price of coal, which is equivalent to
a tax of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 a
year.
r Mr. Shafroth boldly disputes the
competency of the Federal Govern
ment to administer a leased estate at
a distance of 2000 or 3000 miles. As
rproof he cited the administration of
the National forests. Of those in
Colorado, he said, 40 per cent lies
above timber, So per cent is between
timber line and good timber, being
covered with scrub timber, and only
30 per cent grows merchantable tim
ber. The prospector who goes on the
National forest must have his min
eral claim inspected to see that he
has not taken it for some ulterior
purpose and an xpert must deter
mine whether it will develop a pay
ing mine. Yet the greatest gold dis
coveries have disproved the theories
of -geologists.
It is probable that Congress will
finally decide upon some plan of
leasing for land bearing fuel and fer
tilizers, but the criticisms of Mr.
Shafroth, which are voiced by many
other Western men, on that policy
and on the administration of the
public land must be met. The In
terior Department, having to deal
with peculiarly Western problems,
should always be headed by a West
ern man; so should the General Land
Office. Broad powers should be
given to local officers on the ground,
subject only to review by their supe
riors at Washington.
By withholding public land from
State taxation the Government does a
great wrong to the states and con
founds the rights of sovereignty with
those of ownership. State sover
eignty requires that all land within
a state be subject to taxation,
whether the owner be the Govern
ment or an individual. This right of
the states has been waived hitherto
because public land has been settled
and has become taxable as soon as it
acquired a value. Now that the Gov
ernment seems likely to remain the
perpetual owner of much land and to
derive a revenue from leases, justice
requires that the leased and reserved
land be subject to taxation. A grant
py the Government of a fraction of
the revenue, such aa is paid from the
National forest receipts, is not suffi
cient, for it is an Implied denial of
the state's taxing right and Is re
stricted to certain uses. If the Gov
ernment holds land for a price or a
rental which keeps it out of the mar
ket, the state should be free to tax it
precisely as in the case of land held
"by a private speculator. When the
Government leases-land, it ehould.be
assessed at the capitalized value of
the rent. Only by such means can
the conservation policy be made to
aocord with Justice to the states.
Ther is a majestic Impetuosity in
the movements of the California
Railroad Commission which awakens
admiration and terror simultaneously.
A In-VAfrHfi-n.tine- thA "Pullman Com -
pany ror several montns tne com
mission orders it to pay its porters
decent wages. The company Is al
lowed thirty days to obey. Then if it
refuses terrible things are to happen.
The Railroad Commission, hot with
outraged dignity, declares that it will
recommend to the State of California
to begin another investigation. No
wonder the company trembles.
HIS RECORD; LET HIM KEEP IT.
An excuse-maker for the Gover
nor's part, in state extravagance says:
A Governor cannot appropriate money.
Governors cannot pass appropriation bills.
Governors do not legislate. Governors do
not pans appropriation bills over the execu
tive vetoes. Only Legislatures can appro
priate money.
But Governors have a very large
part in spending public money. They
don't have to spend it merely because
it is appropriated.
Governors in other states who
have sought economy for economy's
sake instead of contenting them
selves with making indefinite protest
have found ways to check extrava
gances of Legislatures.
The Governor of Oregon has the
appointment of numerous boards and
commissions which spend public
money. He has power to force them
to economize and to see that balances
revert to the treasury. Governor
West has made no effort toward
economy except through the splutter
ings of his veto pen. When his vetoes
were overridden he has throwji up
his hands. In effect he has said:
"There's the pelf, boys. Go get it
And the boys have got it.
We are trying to elect an economi
cal Legislature this year. We dotibt
less shall. But there will be another
one to elect two years hence, and
there is no telling what it will be.
But we shall have the same Governor
in 1917 as we have in 1915. Oregon
needs a Governor who not only has
the sand to carry out a professed
policy, but one who possesses knowl
edge of state affairs. Such it has not
now. Such it should elect while in
terest in economy is keen.
Governor West's administration has
been the most extravagant in the his
tory of Oregon. Let him keep the
record.
PAID PROPAGANDA.
Let the man who pays no direct
tax not deceive himself as to his per
sonal interest in tax measures. The
$1500 exemption measure is one that
is clearly opposed to his interests.
This exemption is on homes. .It
does not apply to rented . property.
The landlord would get no exemption
on the house occupied by the tenant
and, moreover, he would have to pay
higher taxes on it because his prop
erty would be among that which
would make up for the revenues lost
by the exemption of other property.
Taxes are figured into the rent bill
by the landlord. If taxes increase
rents will Increase.
The measure is drawn for the ben
efit of the man in comfortable cir
cumstances. Not only would the
tenant suffer by its enactment but
certain small property owners would
also be burdened. Those who possess
improvements or personal property
short of $1500 will get less than a
$1500 exemption. At a value some
where short of this $1500, now im
possible to determine, the increase in
taxe3 brought about by the exemp
tion would apply to the unexempted
real estate of the little fellow in an
amount that would more than offset
the -saving he got from the exemp
tion. The rich man and the very poqr
man would be the ones whose tax
contribution would be increased. In
many cases the rich man would be
able to pass it on to the consumer,
as would the landlord.
The framers of this amendment
can hardly be deceived. The ab
solute untruths published In a cir
cular over their signatures as argu
ments for its enactment Indicate a
knowledge of its weakness. It is not
a poor man's movement. It Is part
of the propaganda with which Ore
gon has been Inflicted for several
years by bread and butter agitators
to the detriment of the state's prog
ress. PCKFOSB OF IMPRISONMENT.
The suit of a Rhode Island ex
convict for wages he claims to have
earned while working for a prison
labor contractor has moved the New
York Evening Post to deny that sim
ply because he Is not a slave, he has
a right to payment for his labor. The
Post asks:
If he possesses the ordinary rights of a
freeman, he possesses the right to come and
go. to enjoy the society of hl wife and
children, to work as much or as little as he
pleases. Is he to be mocked with, mere
wages, to be enjoyed perhaps only after
years of waiting, and in the meanwhile to
pine away in loneliness and confinement?
Is the withholding of wages the only de
privation which the slave endures? Ia It
the bitterest of the pangs he is called upon
to suffer? Is the loss of liberty nothing,
so long as a dally dole of money la added
to the dally dole of food?
The answer is to be found in the
consideration of the purpose of Im
prisonment. Formerly this was sim
ply to punish, without any idea of re
fonrh The ultimate aim, then as
now, was the safety of society. But
this aim is not now held to have
been attained by the simple punish
ment of the criminal, who was re
leased with the moral certainty that
he would commit another crime and
be again punished. Society seeks to
make itself secure by not only pun
ishing the criminal but by curing him
of his criminal disposition and con
verting him Into a useful citizen.
Labor is required of him, both as
moral discipline and as fitting him
for good citizenship.
The convict, however, needs an in
centive to apply himself to his labor
and to learn a trade which he can
follow after his liberation. Mere
board in a prison with the prospect of
being turned out into the world pen-
Tniless at the end of his term is a poor
incentive, especially if he is haunted
by the thought of a family In want
through his misdeeds. If he is taught
a useful trade and is credited with
the value of his labor, less the cost
of his maintenance, he will have this
incentive. All or part of his earn
ings may go to support of his depend
ants and thus his mind may be re
lieved of worry. If he has no depend
ants, his earnings will buy him such
comforts as prison discipline permits
and will give him "a stake" to start
life again as a free man. Al Jennings,
in his autobiography, has told what
a struggle the most determined and
well-meaning x-convict has to "keep
straight." His term should be a
preparation for this struggle.
The error of the sentimentalists
who clamor for clemency consists In
their overlooking the reformatory
purpose of Imprisonment. They call
for release of a convict on parole be
fore he has undergone the necessary
discipline or has acquired skill to
earn an honest living. They are not
even sure that he desires to turn from
crime. He too often breaks his parole
and commits new crimes. He should
not be paroled until he has com
pleted his training for free life. Then
he should be given his liberty, though
he may have several more years to
serve. With an accumulation from
his earnings, with a trade and, if he
has a family,' with the knowledge
that he has been providing for it,
though in separation, he' will have a
fair start. In many cases society
then will have attained its Rouble
purpose it will have punished the
criminal and made him a good citizen.
COWBOY- SONGS.,
By collecting the old "Cowboy
Songs" of the vanishing ranges, Pro
fessor John A. Lomax has performed
a valuable service to American his
tory and literature. Some of these
songs have great poetical merit of the
simple, lyrical character, while others
are mere jingles. But upon the whole
they are worth saving as human rec
ords. The life which they express
can never be lived again since the en
vironment which made it possible has
passed away.
The same is true of the songs of
the pioneers who settled the states of
the Middle West. .Hamlin Garland
has given specimens of them in a re
cent publication. There must have
been hundreds more which have
either perished utterly or which will
soon be - forgotten unless some de
voted collector like Professor Lomax
saves them from oblivion. This work
was done for the Scottish' border bal
lads by Sir Walter Scott. The songs
of the Middle West are more than
likely to die for want of a friend.
The adventures of the pioneers In
Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri were as
romantic as any border warfare be
tween Scot and Saxon and they were
celebrated by many a rustic poet
whose verse deserves a better fate
than dark oblivion.
It is said that the old days of
steam boating on the Mississippi pro
duced a -wealth of songs or ballads,
most 6f which have perished. Some
of them may still survive in the mem
ories of aged people, and It' would be
a patriotic work to collect and pub
lish them. It was of such material
that the Iliad and Odyssey were com
posed by the Greek poets. Much Is
said by our magazine writers about
the lack of a genuine American liter
ature. ' If we ever produce such a
literature it must grow out of the
lives and adventures of the people.
In the great waves of migration
which populated the continent there
was a wealth of adventure and ro
mance such as no other nation ever
possessed, but Instead of using it for
the support of a real American liter
ature we have complacently allowed
It to perish while we have gone to
Greece, Italy and England for our
inspiration.
HOPE FOR THE BALD.
At last there is hope for the bald.
They may throw their hair restorers,
wigs and toupees to the dogs, for a
way has - been found to make their
heads perfectuly hirsute as they were
in the halcyon days of youth. The
great discovery was made by a Ger
man, whose fame will be sung by a
million grateful tongues and attested
by a host of refreshed scalps. His
name is Dr. Havas. The method is
simple.
The ingenious doctor begins by
making a tiny loop of fine gold wire.
Into this loop he threads a hair of
the desired color and texture. It
may be black, gray or auburn.' It
may curl or lie straight as the pa
tient desires. . In this respect Dr.
Havas' method is far ahead of na
ture. The golden loop with the hair
threaded through it Is inserted be
neath the scalp with a hypodermic
needle and left there to "set." A
little sore forms round the spot,
which gradually heals, leaving a scar
and the hair is fixed for good and all.
It never can fall out. It never can
lose its color.
Since a distinct operation is re
quired for each particular hair the
implanting of a whole scalp is a work
of time, but the result is worth all
the trouble and money it costs. What
is a mere toupee or a wig compared
with a forest of hairs transplanted
directly into one's head? It is said
that 50,000 punctures are necessary
to cover the cranium, which is at the
rate of 625 to the square Inch. Since
the hairs are bent double in the ope
ration of threading they will stand
1250 to the square inch when all is
complete.
The great merit of this work is its
imperishability combined with im
munity from change. The hairs will
not grow, of course, but neither will
they , decay. They can be brushed
just as smoothly as if they were nat
ural and made to assume any desired
form of beauty. Best of all no bar
berlng la required. It is hoped that
some genius will devise a method for
the beard like Dr. Havas' for the hair.
Barbers and razors will then go out
of fashion entirely and the human
race will be emancipated from one
of the most prolific sources of its
woes.
EUSOPE INVITED TO MEDDLE. .
If the South American states which
have undertaken to mediate between
the United States and Huerta have
asked the aid of European powers to
induce this country to make ac
ceptable terms, they have greatly im
paired their usefulness as mediators.
When it comes to the point that the
terms which President Wilson dic
tates to Huerta are to be modified at
the request of Europe, the ' people
may well ask what has become of the
dominance of the United States in
this hemisphere.
If we permit European Interfer
ence in our quarrel with Huerta we
shall have established a precedent for
Europe to take a part in the settle
ment of every quarrel we may have
with any of our neighbors in this
hemisphere. We may be called upon
to consult Europe as to our dealings
with Colombia, Panama, Nicaragua
or Santo Domingo. In course of time
the European concert may undertake
to regulate the affairs of this conti
nent as well as those of its own. Then
our position as the dominant Nation
on this continent will be gone and
the Monroe Doctrine will become a
dead letter.
European meddling in American
affairs is a natural sequel to the
President's Mexican policy. Having
determined on the elimination of
Huerta by watchful waiting Instead
which is force, he found it necessary
to Induce Europe to wait also. That
Involved deference to European opin
ion and winning the complaisance of
European statesmen by such means
as surrender in the canal tolls dis
pute. Mr. Wilson's hostile attitude
toward Huerta, combined with his
unwillingness to use force, has earned
us not only hatred but contempt in
Mexico. When we make a display of
force at Tampico, the mob refuses to
believe that our ships will shoot, but
a threat from a German ship suffices
to secure release of Americans.
We have thus placed ourselves un
der obligations to Europe, first, for
forbearance while we waited watch
fully for Huerta to go, and again for
assistance in rescuing our citizens,
whom our own ships could and
should have rescued. The price
seems to be control over our canal.
A further price may be the contempt
of Latin-America and a permanent
loss of prestige in the eyes of the
whole world. These are the fruits of
sentimental statesmanship.
The Salem matron who hatched out
an orphaned litter of chickens with
a hot water bottle has made a valu
able contribution to science and poul
try lore, but we do not expect to see
her method supplant the Incubator.
Years ago when early chicks were
desired and a hen was not available
the family flour barrel behind the
kitchen stove was used. The eggs
were planted in the flour and the
genial warmth duly hatched them.
The flour barrel could also be used
for a brooder until the chicks were
able to protect themselves.
France has been occupied since
1909 in subduing Morocco and ex
pects this year to link together its
forces in the whole Mediterranean
region and in two years more to po
lice thoroughly all the essential parts
of Morocco. This Is expected to re
quire 20,000 loyal Moroccans, 20,000
Senegalese and 15,000 Frenchmen.
If we should undertake to pacify
Mexico and the task should parallel
that of the. French in Morocco, their
experience holds out to us the pros
pect of seven years' labor.
Gladstone loathed war but he bom
barded Alexandria and conquered
Egypt. President Wilson loathes
war, but he sent the fleet to take
Vera Cruz and may yet send an army
to Mexico City. Does fate thus Jest
with human statesmen or does their
love of peace tempt such disturbers
as Arab! Pasha and Huerta to aggra
vate them to the striking point? Per
haps the best guaranty of peace Is
not a vociferous expressed love for
peace but a known willingness to
fight when provoked.
The Springfield Republican in ef
fect admits what President Wilson
has denied that repeal of canal toll
exemption was the price we were to
pay for England's aid in Mexico. It
says:
Pass the canal tolls exemption repeal -bill
the quicker the better. The United States
cannot have too many friends abroad if It
is to be embroiled in Mexico for the next
two or three years how much longer nobody
could say because nobody knows. The re
peal of the canal tolls exemption has become
a common-sense measure In the direction of
precautitary National defense.
""""While the Government was prepar
ing the expedition to Mexico, Secre
tary Bry&n published an editorial In
the Commoner saying: "Brute force
is not the level upon which this Na
tion settles controversies today." The
Chicago Inter-Ocean says this is why
Mr. Bryan should go.
Who would have thought In 1898
that sixteen years later Spain would
be the Nation through which Mexico
would seek to- settle a quarrel with
us? But a fight is often the prelude
to close friendship. -
In California Pullman porters are
to be paid by the railroad company.
We doubt, however, if the company
will be able to support them in the
luxury to which they have been ac
customed. The United States will soon have a
chain of military posts extending
from GuantananVb, through Panama,
Hawaii, and Guam to Manila. We
may need them when we least ex
pect it.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., is wrong
in asserting the issue Is recognition
of the union. It may have been so
at the start. Now it is recognition
of humanity.
It is rather discouraging to the ad
vocate of good morals to learn that
a man who stayed out late escaped
burning to death in yesterday morn
ing's fire.
American warships were compelled
to withdraw from Tampico to save
Americans from peril in that place.
What' sort of policy is that?
A Chicago oleomargarine-maker
has been sentenced to jail. Where
he should have the stuff served up
with his meals.
Wouldn't it be frightful If strained
relations and State Department ac
tivities drifted along Into the Chau
tauqua season?
Also, during the progress of media
tion, the long-haired man and short
haired woman may get a small audi
ence again.
Carranza accepts the principle of
mediation. But what does Villa aay?
That's more to the point.
Republican gubernatorial candi
dates will speak at Salem. Taking
advantage of the lull.
-
State Treasurer Kay is ready to
pay all bills on demand. The State
of Oregon ranks A-l.
San Francisco is claiming 560.000
people. Just a few laps ahead of
Seattle's pretensions.
That Colorado mixup is net an ul
cer on American civilization, . but
merely a blister.
Teddy discovered a new tribe.
Wonder what it cost Brazil to move
it into his path?
Japan has killed Hearst's yellow
peril deader than an Egyptian
mummy.
Huerta is the only one who will be
benefited by the halt if mediation
fails.
Leave it to the Latin-Americans to
mediate all Summer If we let them.
It is very plain the Governor never
tried to crank a refractory auto.
April is living up to its reputation
as a calamity month.
Mediation Is not fair to Fighting
Funston.
Last year's aid" Is not In tjl tomorrow.
Stars and Starmakers
BT LEONE CAM BAJUt.
Eleanor Haber, an actress known in
Portland professionally and socially, is
one of the big successes in Louise
Closser Hale's play, "Her Soul and Her
Body," which was produced a few
weeks ago in San Francisco by the
Belascos with Mrs. Douglas Crane in
the leading role. Miss Haber plays a
San Francisco shop girl and has an
entertaining monologue which review
ers say she does vivaciously and in
great spirits.
i e
Lillian Kemble, once a Baker Player,
is heading the Utah Stock Company
in Salt Lake City. This is the final
week of the engagement.
It is the irony of theatrical fate that
while Cathrlne Countiss was playing
the Orpheum tour her husband. K. IX
Price, was managing Robert . llilliard
in the East, and that no sooner was he
fairly headed for the West than .she
found herself booked In New York and
Baltimore, and thence Into her native
State 'of Texas, where Bhe Is exciting
great enthusiasm as beadllner over the
Interstate circuit. Miss Countiss has
given over 500 performances of "The
Birthday Present" within the past year.
She will spend her vacation at her
Summer home in Denver, where Mr.
Price will join her at the end of the
Hilliard tour, July L,
'
Two actresses who are the center of
this week's theatrical attractions have
widely contrasting notions about the
wedding ring. Margaret Illington, at
the Heilig, wears one which her bus
band, Edward Bowes, gave to her three
years ago, and Dorothy Shoemaker at
the Baker has one which Louis Leon
Hall gave her only a week ago yester
day. Miss IUlngton is never separated
from her ring and beamingly boasts
that it has not -left her finger since
E. J. B. put it there on their wedding
day. In "Within the Law" she - plays
the role of an unmarried girl, and
stage etiquette would demand that the
wedding ring bo not worn David
Belasco, for instance, who is a great
stickler for detail would demand its
removal. But Miss Ulington defies
detail of stage consistency and wears
her little hoop of gold hidden with
flesh-colored court plaster, and an
other ring above it, so set that it
helps hide the plaster. Miss Uling
ton declares she will never play a role
that will make it necessary for' her
to leave off the ring. "If it comes to
a tug-of-war between my ring and a
role, I'll just let the role go," said Miss
IUlngton.' .
Over at the Baker Theater Dorothy
Shoemaker-Hall took her wedding ring
off for this week's bill. "The Easiest
Way." and says she will wear It only
when the role calls for her to play
a Mrs. Somebody. In the place of her
wedding ring she wears a tiny guard
and mascot in the form of a fine gold
circlet which has been in Mr. Hall's
family for more than 400 years.
Jane Tyrrell, a well-known leading
woman of the Pacific Coast, has be
come Mrs. W. H. Ziegler In the past
week and will retire from the stage
to assume a domestic life in Spokane.
Miss Tyrrell made her first advent in
the West when she came in 1910 with
Herbert Kelcey and Effie Shannon in
"The Thief." While playing in Seattle
he was engaged by Russell & Drew to
play leads in stock. Since then she
has been Identified with stock In Cali
fornia cities and in Spokane and Van
couver, B. C.
Wlllard Mack and Marjorie Rambeau
are playing a stock-star engagement
at the Alcazar Theater in San Fran
cisco. According to a story just given
out Mr. Mack will open a producing
office in San Francisco at the close of
his Alcazar engagement,
Chauncey Olcott Is making his an
nual pilgrimage to this Coast. This
week he is in San Francisco. "Shameen
Dhu" Is his play, one of his usual Irish
romantlo sort.
Jack Lait, who has been gathering
in good royalties from his first play,
"Help Wanted," has had a new piece
selected by Oliver Morosco, who will
produce it in LosT Angeles in Septem
ber. It is called "Thumbs Down," and
is a satire on reform. Mr. Lalt is a
former San Francisco newspaper man.
Ever notice that nearly every play
wright has at one time or another been
a newspaper writer?
Al L. Krause. who. answers the de
scription of "invariably affable and
obliging" which custom seems to have
made Into a term descriptive of box
office employes, has been promoted.
Probably that same affability and
obligingness had something to do with
it. That, and the resignation of Louis
B. Christ, who has long held down the
place as treasurer of tho Orpheum.
Mr. Christ is going to Dayton, Wash.,
to take over the management of a
theater there, and Mr. Krause, who has
been his assistant for two years, has
been promoted to the place.
After seven years' of litigation and
reaching the Court of Appeals the
$100,000 suit brought against Laura
Big-gar, the actress, by Mrs. Agnes
Mary Hendrick for alienation of the
affections of her husband, Dr. Charles
C. Hendrick, is to be tried. Justice
Kelley, in the Supreme Court, Brooklyn,
has signed an order permitting Miss
Blggar to serve an amended answer
In the new trial ordered by the Court
of Appeals.
This from Los Angeles:
Henry Woodruff is laying off this week
before resuming hia work at Salt Lake.
During this vacation he has had the oppor
tunity to be chief spokesman at a presenta
tion party when Marie Lloyd waa given a
silver plate by her frlerids here. Miss Lloyd,
not particularly gracious to her Los Ange
la audiences, has gone away vowing ven
geance for what ahe considers a ohllly re
ception. Marie's sister, Alice, has gone -back
into vaudeville and. will visit us some
time this early Summer.
a
Will Walling has apparently left the
profession for good. That can be played
both ways for any company Mr. Walling
would leave would be for its good. He
has a meat shop now in Napa, CaL
Enrico Caruso is having his bian
nual suit for breach of promise. This
season It is a Miss Mildred Meffert.
who is suing. She wants Enrico or else
$100,000 damages.
Harry E. Wlllard and wife. Sylvia
Thornt, are visiting Mr. Wlllard's
mother and slater In Los Angeles. They
have just closed with Brady's "Little
Women" Company and will return to
that organisation next season.
CANDIDATES A EVER ENDORSED.
PraUblUoa Party Custom Kxplnlned
Br Writer Who Is Member.
PORTLAND, April 19, (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian is a letter
from Governor T. T. Geer. regarding
a letter seat him by the executive
committee of the Prohibition party. It
Is a straight forward, candid letter and
I wish simply to remove an Impression
he may have made on the public.
The Prohibition party is a political
party and not a temperance society.
We never "endorse" any candidate.
There are societies which do this, but
we either have a candidate pure and
simple, or we have not, and if a can
didate the law requires that he accept
the nomination. The idea of putting
our convention after the primaries and
then selecting "goodish" men to en
dorse does not appeal to us any more
than to the Republicans or Demo
crats. As party men and women we do not
agree that a person in a license jSarty
is just as good a Prohibitionist as are
we, for this reason: Being a member
of that party his personal influence Is
cast with a party which, up to date,
has been a license party. In no plat
form, either National or state, has the
Republican party mentioned prohibi
tion of the liquor traffic Jn no license
state where they controlled the legis
lative and executive departments have
they, as a party, replaced license with
prohibition. This seems to us to class
the Republican party as a license
party and to give one's personal in
fluence to it does not class them as a
Prohibitionist
We believe that Mr. Geer in his
heart would like to abolish the liquor
traffic and believe that he would be
freer handed in doing so as the can
didate of a party that openly opposes
that traffic. This Nation is controlled
by political parties and we believe that
if alt people who believe in the de
struction of the liquor traffic would
get together in one political party that
had the courage to make that a party
issue it could be accomplished, while
to divide up and fight each other
through being in different parties de
lays the day. This is where we differ
with Mr. Geer and are sorry.
The advice to withdraw our ticket
"this campaign" we get every cam
paign, but never a reason for it. It
does seem strange that now. when the
prohibition question is fairly before
the people, when the Legislature is to
enact the law to jnake it effective, just
when Prohibitionists are needed in the
Legislature, we should be asked to leave
the field open to the parties which
have never shown any friendship to
prohibition. As a matter of fact there
has never been a year when the Pro
hibitionists are so needed in the Legis
lature as this year, also in offices hav
ing the enforcing of the law, and yet
we are asked to get off the earth.
"Wouldn't that jar you?"
- E. T. JOHNSON.
Creative Surgery Years Ajco.
PORTLAND. April 29. (To the Ed
itor.) Visiting Portland for the first
time I have read your article upon
"Creative Surgery" in The Oregonian
with a more than passing interest.
Born near Boston, and looking back
over my 72 years of life permit me to
tell the story of early creative sur
gery as told to me 50 years ago by
that enthusiastic young surgeon, the
late J. W. Haywood of Easton, Mass.
At the time of which I speak. Dr.
Bigelow, of Boston, was regarded as a
most wonderful surgeon. There was
brought to his attention a young
woman who had lost her nose in child
hood by some disease, and her mouth
was also affected so that she could not
close her Hps to retain the fluids of
the mouth. She came to Dr. Bigelow
hoping that the greatest of surgeons
could do something to make her terri
ble misfortune less marked. With that
wonderful courage so often exhibited
by the so-called "weaker sex" she of
fered to submit to any operation the
great surgeon might suggest.
Dr Blgelow's problem was to draw
together enough of the flesh of the
face to form a new nose. He dissect
ed the flesh from the cheek bones and
drew the flesh over so as partly to form
the nose. The skin was drawn as
tight as the head of n drum, but the
peculiar thing: happened that nature
ultimately softened this tense flesh.
The hair was shaved back from the
forehead, the flesh dissected from the
cranium and some flesh secured from
this source: then an operation waa
made upon the chin and the under lip
drawn up so that the lips could close
normally.
The whole result was that In time
the young woman had a quite respect
able nose, and Dr. Bigelow a great deal
of merited fame. O.HOWARD.
Too Much Inspection.
HOOD RIVER. April 28. (To the
Editor.) I am recently from the East.
My headquarters at present are at
Hood River. I came here partly for
the purpose of looking up homes for
quite a number of people who wish to
come West to better their condition in
many ways. Many are looking tor
homestead land in Central Oregon. In
my investigations along this line I
ran across a letter written by A. Ven
ator, of Venator, Or., which throws a
new light on the subject. I could not
conscientiously advise my - people to
take chances where such conditions ex
ist. If the Government has land for its
subjects and the land is to be given to
the people, why allow all kinds of
meddling in the matter to the extent
that, the said land costs more than It
is really worth to get it?
This Is my third trip to Oregon. It
is a great country and I intend to make
it my home, but like most other states
many reforms are needed. The public
domain should indeed belong to the
people, but at-the present time there
are too many Government hangers-on
to make homesteading profitable, as I
see it. . JOHN B. POLK.
Problems In Registration.
CORVALLIS, Or.. April 28. (To the
Editor.) Please advise whether nn
elector who some months ago regis
tered properly as a Republican and
who since said registration took an
active part In a Prohibition county
convention which nominated candidates
for the Legislature and the county of
fices, and who also was elected an of
ficer of the county central committee
of the Prohibition party, has the legal
right to vote at the primary election
In May, as a Republican, if challenged,
and the above facts successfully shown.
SUBSCRIBER.
If the elector is still registered as a
Republican and has not changed his
registration to Prohibition he could
not be prevented from voting as a Re
publican in tha primary. He is of rec
ord as a Republican, and there is no
official record of his having become a
member of the Prohibition party.
The place to have challenged him, if
any, would have been when he par
ticipated in the Prohibition party af
fairs. He could not now be challenged
for voting as a Republican.
Absence of Flas; nt Capital.
PORTLAND. Or., April 29. (To the
Editor.) I was spending a short time
in Salem, the state capital, when to
my surprise there was not an Amer
ican flag to be seen. As a loyal Amer
ican citizen I wished to sal ate the dear
old flag, but not a flag did I see, not
even on the state Capitol.
It does seem as though there is
lacking In the City of Salem true
American patriotism and it surely is
not a credit to the state capital.
LOYAL AMERICAN.
Twenty-five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of April 30. 1SS9.
New York, April 29. President Har
rison today reviewed a naval parade
and attended a banquet and ball in
commemoration of the centennial of
Washington's inauguration.
Olympla. April 29. Governor Moore
today made the following appointments
on his staff: Inspector-General, James
R. Hayden; Judge Advocate-General.
John F. Govey; Quartermaster-General.
Henry I.andes. of Port Townsend;
Commissary-General, E. II. Morrison:
Paymaster-General, C. 11. Kittinger:
Surgeon-General, H. R. Kaylor; Chief
of Ordnance. H. W. Falrweather, with
the rank of Colonel: Aides de Camp.
W. J. Milroy aud Charles E. Claypool,
with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel;
Assistant Adjutant-General, J. K. Scott,
with the rank of Major.
Albany. April 29. William Riles'
team was frightened by a thunder
storm today and caught him on the
plow, dragginj him a considerable dis
tance and injuring him severely.
The directors of the Sierra Nevada
mine. In the Coeur d'Alenes, will today
declare a dividend of 2 per cent.
Yesterday the men engaged in exca
vating for the foundation of the cable
road powerhouse, on Sixteenth and Clay
streets, exploded a blast which shat
tered the glass in a number of win
dows. Katie Burner, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. W. T. Burney, who was injured by
falling downstairs at Ashland, is re
cover! ng.
Articles incorporating the Oregon
Water & Street Railway Companv were
filed yesterday by C X. Larrabee, C
H. Prescott. Ellis G. Hughes and H. Y.
Thompson to furnish a water supplv
for East Portland and Alblna and to
build a street railway between this
city. East Portland and Alblna.
D. Campbell, who has the contract
to do the finishing work on tho Port
land Hotel, returned from San Fran
cisco yesterday.
Four men who tried to cross the Co
lumbia just above the Cascades on
Sunday, in a boat, were swept over the
rapids and drowned.
Yesterday Coiincilmen Forbes and
Hoyt removed F. D. Matthpws from
the position of overseer of the street
cleaning and sprinkling department
and appointed William Connor. Will
lam Flledner. chairman of tho commit
tee, is indignant.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian of April 30. 1864.
Joseph William Trutch has been ap
pointed Chief Commissioner of Lanes
and Works for the colony of British
Columbia. We congratulate our old
friend, who for a long time was in
the office of the Surveyor-General of
Oregon, upon his official promotion.
Washington. April 29. Letters re
ceived today from Admiral Porter pro
nounce Banks' recent expedition a dis
astrous failure. Besides over 30 pieces
of artillery and a large quantity or
small arms, several hundred wagons
and the first-class gunboat Eastport
with nearly 4000 prisoners have be-n
lost: also the paymaster's safe con
taining l. 000.000 In greenbacks. Frank
lin and Stone, having through neRlect
and carelessness contributed greatly to
the defeat In Louisiana, will be relieved
and probably court-martialed.
Charles Burkhart and Lucy E.. his
wife, were committed for trial yester
day by Justice Gray upon a charge of
assault on Mary Steele, a little girl be
tween 6 and 7 years old, with intent to
commit murder. Judge Marquam ap
pointed W. S. Caldwell guardian. Mr.
and Mrs. Ladd are deserving: of much
praise for their unceasing toll on
Thursday niarht to render the little
sufferer comfortable when it was res
cued. The Congregational Church, on Sec
ond street is undergoing repairs, im
provements and renovation. The whole
is to be painted, cushioned and car
peted. A beautiful seal was received last
evening from the Cascades by Messrs.
Powell and Lappeus, of the Oro Flno, in
this city.
The large salt pans Just completed at
the Oregon Iron Works will be shipped
today to the salt wells. 18 miles below
this city, where they, will be used as
evaporators.
Considerable quantities of harness
have been manufactured in this city by
J. B. Conglo and S. Sherlock & Co.
Thef California Daily Mail Stage Com
pany is carrying a taut rein on its
route. The ftago on Thursday arrived
In Portland from Sacramento in 6 days
11 hours, or 13 hours ahead of schedule
time.
The blocks 40 by 200 fert. located in
the center of Parks-treet and Intended
for ornamental purposes, were a por
tion of them tiiken possession of by
Jumpers yesterday, who by small In
closures try to make, private property
of the public street.
HOMESTEAD TAX BKFOHK PATENT.
Government Loses Jurisdiction When
Filing In Made, Says Writer.
PORTLAND. April 29. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian April 25 a
Subscriber asks: "Is a homestead sub
ject to taxation before patent issues?"
The editor's reply: "A homestead is
not subject to taxation before patent
issues," but "improvements and per
sonal property are."
I take issue on the ground that, as
soon as a valid filing has been made
on any part or parcel of the public
domain It is no lonser public but pri
vate property and is subject to taxa
tion. A test case was made several years
ago In Colorado. A man filed on a
mining claim in the Leadville district
and before patent Issued the man died,
tin fact, I think he never applied for
patent). The widow held the claim
for several years and finally it was as
sessed. Tho widow refused to pay the
taxes on the ground that the title was
in the Government: besides the claim
was a non-producer. The Sheriff sold
the property. It was bought by a man
by the name of Wood, who immediately
began development. It turned out to
be a very valuable property.
The widow brought suit to recover.
The case was fought through the state
courts and finally went to the Supreme
Court of thfc Vnlted States, which
ruled: Whenever a valid filing has
been made, on any part of the public
domain, it is no longer public, but pri
vate property, and Is subject to taxa
tion. The widow lost her case.
Where a valid filing has been made
the Government has no Jurisdiction
further than to issue patent when the
law has been compiled with.
' HENRY Al. JONES.
Homesteads, prior to the time final
proof has been made and a certificate
issued therefor, are exempted from
taxation by section 3557 Lord's Oregon
Laws.
The Oregonian assumed that the in
quirer desired to learn the practice in
Oregon and doubtless he did.
I